Ford and QUALCOMM Launch Wingcast to Revolutionize In-Car Telematics Services

Strategic Insights -

Ford Motor Company and QUALCOMM Incorporated have jointly created a new company, Wingcast, to develop and deliver wireless mobility and information services for cars and trucks. Wingcast will offer state-of-the-art telematics services, including voice, entertainment, Internet access, and safety services, to global consumers. The new company will work with leading industry hardware, software, and content providers to provide innovative applications to consumers. Ford expects over a million of its cars and trucks to be equipped with Wingcast services by the end of 2002, with the number increasing to three million by 2003 and virtually all of its vehicles by the end of 2004.

Key Takeaways:

  • Wingcast, the new company, will provide comprehensive telematics services to global consumers, including voice, entertainment, Internet access, and safety services.
  • The company will work with leading industry hardware, software, and content providers to offer state-of-the-art in-vehicle applications to consumers.
  • Ford Motor Company expects more than a million of its cars and trucks to be equipped with Wingcast services by the end of 2002, with the number increasing to three million by 2003 and virtually all of its vehicles by the end of 2004.
  • Harel Kodesh, formerly of Microsoft, has been chosen to lead Wingcast as its president and CEO.
  • Nissan is working with Ford and QUALCOMM to bring Wingcast services into certain luxury vehicles, with plans to extend the use of these applications to a broader selection of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles in the future.
  • Wingcast services will provide users with seamless access to applications and services, including communication, information, navigation, entertainment, safety, and security from their cars and trucks as well as any compatible mobile device or computer.
  • The telematics market is expected to grow significantly, with International Data Corporation estimating it will reach $42 billion by 2010 from $1 billion in 1998.

Statistics:

  • Ford Motor Company expects more than a million of its cars and trucks to be equipped with Wingcast services by the end of 2002.
  • The number of vehicles expected to be equipped with Wingcast services will increase to three million by 2003.
  • Virtually all of Ford's cars and trucks are expected to be equipped with Wingcast services by the end of 2004.
  • The telematics market is expected to grow from $1 billion in 1998 to $42 billion by 2010.
  • QUALCOMM has licensed its essential CDMA patent portfolio to over 80 telecommunications equipment manufacturers worldwide.

Sources:

  • Ford Motor Company (www.ford.com )
  • QUALCOMM Incorporated (www.qualcomm.com )
  • International Data Corporation
  • Cartell, a Romulus, Mich.-based supplier of telematics equipment to automakers
  • Reuters
  • Business Wire